Kitchen cabinet structure



Nov. 15, 1966 ,w. R. NELsoN KITCHEN CABINET STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 8, 1964 /475 /56 INVENTOR Wdczfzfo@ BY dum/1.a, una

W. R. NELSON KITCHEN CABINET STRUCTURE v Nov. 15, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed July 8, 1964 Nov. 15, 1966 w. R. NELSON 3,235,682

KITCHEN CABINET STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 8', 1964 INVENTOR.

Nov. 15, 1966 w. R. NELsoN 3,285,682

KITCHEN CABINET sauqmm; Filed July s, 1964 5 sheets-sheet 4 w. R. NELSONKITCHEN CABINET STRUCTURE Nov. l5, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 8,1964 United States Patent C) 3,285,682 I KITCHEN CABINET STRUCTUREWilliam R. Nelson, Des Plaines, Ill., assignor to Kranel Mfg. Co.,Elmhurst, Ill., a partnership Filed July 8, 1964, Ser. No. 381,267 17Claims. (Cl. 312 223) This invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in kitchen cabinet structures.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a kitchen cabinetstructure having a lower section provided with an upper surface disposedbelow .a window in a wall of the kitchen, an upper cabinet sectionhaving compartments movable in a vertical direction and disposed :inelevated position above the Window, and means for raising thecompartments to position labove the window and ifor lowering thecompartments to lopen accessible position in front to the window toaiIord access to said compartments.

Another object is to provide a |k-itchen cabinet structure as above setforth wherein there is power operating means for raising thecompartments, latch means for holding the compartments in raisedposition, and means for releasing the latch means for lowering thecompartments to accessible positions by the weight of the compartments.p

Another object is to provide a kitchen cabinet structure as above setIforth wherein there are solenoids for the respective compartments, andswitches on the upper cabinet section in `association with therespective compartments for energizing the power means and the solenoid[for the compartment associated with the selection switch.

Another object is 4to provide a kitchen cabinet structure wherein thereis a drive wheel for each vertically movable compartment, :a motor whichwhen energized rotates all of the drive wheels, 'a solenoid for eachcompartment, and means under control of the switches for energizing thesolenoid tor the selected compartment to produce raising of the selectedcompartment by the drive wheel (for said compartment.

Another object is to provide :a kitchen cabinet structure wherein thereis a first drive wheel ttor each vertically movable compartment, freelyrotatably drive wheels, one for each of said rst drive wheels, a seriesof second drive wheels, one in driving cooperation with each of saidiirst drive wheels, Ia solenoid dior each compartment, means undercontrol of the switches ror energizing the solen-o-id for the selectedcompartment to move the selected second drive wheel into cooperationwith the -freely rotatable wheel to rotate the selected freely rotatablewheel, and means actuated by the selected freely rotatable wheel :forraising the selected compartment.

Another object is to provide an opper cabinet section having a pluralitylot vertcia-lly movable compartments in side by side relation .andswitches at the bottom of said upper cabinet section with one switchaligned below each lof the vertically movable compartments forenergiz-ing the power operating means and the solenoid for the selectedcompartment for raising the selected compartment into the rupper cabinetstructure.

Another object is -to provide switch means comprising a irst contactmember jand a second contact member normally disengaged Ifrom the rstcontact member and a exible wall over the forwardly directed lowerportion of the upper cabinet section and over the forward'portion of thebottom 4of the upper cabinet section adapted to be pressed along itsforwardly directed portion or along its bottom portion to close theswitch means for the purpose of raising the selected compartment intothe upper cabinet structure.

Ano-ther object is to provide an upper cabinet section 3,285,682Patented Nov. 15, 1966 ICC , having a lluorescent lighting arrangementover its fron-t portion and above the switch mean-s.

Another object -is to provide a .cabinet structure having lower storagelcompartments or drawers in the lower cabinet section and improved poweroperating means for moving the drawers 'from closed to open positions.

Another object is Ito provide a cabinet structure having lower drawersand improved means for moving the lowe-r drawers when in open positionupwardly to accessible position so that the person does not have to bendor stoop unduly .to reach the contents.

Another object is to provide latch means tor holding the drawers in thelower cabinet section in closed position which latch means is releasedby slight inward movement of the drawers.

Further features and advantages and adaptations of the invention will beappa-rent from the lfollowing detailed description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawings, it being understood that the inventionis limited only within the scope of the appended claims and not to theparticular embodiment selected for illustration.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective of a kitchen cabinet structure employing thefeatures of the present invention in the rupper .and lower cabinetsections;

FIGUR-E 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken general-ly along the line2 2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is ya fragmentary vertical sectional view taken generally alongthe line 3 3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken `generally alongthe line 4 4 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view showing the power operating means or drivingmotor and the drive wheels for raising the compartments into the upperand lower cabinet sections;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional View taken generally along the line 6 6 ofFIGURE 5 and showing end views of the drive wheels for one o f the upperand lower compartments;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 7 7 ofFIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a circuit diagram showing the motor for raising the uppercompartments, the solenoid for setting in operation the wheel forraising the selected compartment and the switch for energizing the motorand the selected solenoid;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken generally alongthe line 9 9 of FIGURE l; and

FIGURE l0 is a rear view of the lower drawer of FIGURE 9 taken generallyalong the line 10-10 of FIGURE 9 with the lower drawer in its loweredposition within the lower cabinet section.

Referring to the drawings for a detailed description, in FIGURE l thekitchen wall 10 has a window 11. The cabinet structure has a lowersection 12 provided with an upper work surface 13 disposed below thewindow 11. The cabinet structure also has an upper cabinet section 14having compartments 15 movable vertically and normally disposed in theupper cabinet section 14 above the window 11. The lower section 12 has asink 17 in the work surface 13.

The upper section 14 has a plurality of vertically movable compartments15 disposed in side `by side relation. While the number of compartments15 may vary, the illustrated embodiment of the invention has fourcompartments 15 as shown in FIGURE 2. Each compartment 15 has angularupright metallic corner members 16, a top wall 18, a bottom wall 20, andshelves 22 and 24. The compartments 15 are guided in their verticalmovements by movement of the angular metallic corner Ine-mbers 16vertically along -angular shaped vertical tracks 26 8 mounted within theupper cabinet section 14 at the four corners of each of the compartments15. I

As shown in FIGURE 5, power operating means 1n the form of an electricmotor 28 when energized drives a shaft 30 through a whe-el or pulley 32on the motor shaft, a wheel or pulley 34 on the shaft 30 and a belt 36trained about the wheels or pulleys 32 and 34. The shaft 30 has fixedthereon, as shown at 38 in FIGURE 7, four drive wheels 40, one for eachof the compartments 15. All of the drive wheels 40 rotate with the shaft30 when the 4motor 28 is energized. The shaft 30 is journaled inbearings 42. a

A second shaft 46 parallel with the shaft 30 is journaled for rotationin bearings 48 and 50. The shaft 46 drives a shaft 46 through a wheel orpulley 52 on the shaft 46', a wheel or pulley 54 on the shaft 46 and abelt 56 trained about the Wheels or pulleys 52 and 54. The shaft 46extends into a gear box 44 which acts to reduce the speed of downwardmovement of the compartments 15. This prevents Ibreakage of dishes orglasses in the compartments,` or other injury, or disturbance of thecontents of the compartments. Drive wheels 58 are freely rotatable aboutthe shaft 46 with one of the wheels 58 laterally aligned with each ofthe drive wheels 40. Each wheel 58 has a pulley portion 60 about whichan elevating cable 62 is trained. There is a separate wheel 58, pulleyportion 60 and elevating cable 62 for each compartment 15.

The elevating cable 62 for the left hand compartment shown in FIGURE 3passes up along the end wall 64 of the cabinet structure and passes overidler pulleys 66 and 68 attached to the `bottom of the top wall 70 ofthe cabinet structure and down under an idler pulley 72 attached to thetop Wall 18 of the compartment 15 associated with this elevating cable.The compartment end of the cable 62 is attached to the bottom of the topwall 70 of the cabinet structure at 74.

The elevating cable 76 for the right hand compartment shown in FIGURE 3similarly passes along the wall 64 and over a pulley similar to thepulley 66 and over a pulley 78 attached to the top wall 70v a'bove thiscompartment and down under an idler pulley 80 attached to the top wall18 of the right hand compartment 15 as shown in FIGURE 3. Thecompartment end of the cable 76 `is attached to the top wall 70 of thecabinet structure at 82. Separate cables 84 and 86 for the other twocompartments are similarly arranged, as shown in FIGURE 2.

For the purpose of driving the selected drive wheel 58 from itsassociate-d drive wheel 40 each driven wheel 40 has a pair of arms 88 onopposite sides thereof. The arms 88 are free to turn on the shaft 30 andare pivotally connected at 90 to arms 92 on opposite sides of a seconddrive wheel 94. As shown in FIGURE 6, the upper ends of the arms 92-carry a pin 93 for the second drive wheel 94. The drive wheels 40 and 58may be formed of metal and the second drive wheel 94 is preferablyformed of plastic or other material and constantly engages the drivewheel 40 for rotation thereby. The drive wheel 58 does not engage thedrive wheel 40.

For the purpose of engaging the drive wheel 94 with the wheel 58 forrotating the wheel 58 from the wheel 40 through the wheel 94, each setof wheels 40, 58 and 94 is provided with a solenoid 95. The solenoid 95is mounted upon a bracket 96 carried by a base member 98 and has a stem100 connected or cooperating at 102 with the adjacent ends of the twoassociated arms 88. When the solenoid 95 is energized its stem 100 movesupwardly and swings the arms 88 and 92 to their dotted line positions asshown in FIGURE 6 to engage the drive wheel 94 with its associated wheel58 to wind the associated cable 62 on the pulley portion 60 of theselected wheel 58 to raise the selected compartment 15. There areseparate wheels 40, 58 and 94; and also separate arms 88 and 92 and aseparate solenoid 95 for each compartment 15.

Associated with each wheel 58 is a clutch collar 104 fixed on the shaft46 as shown at 106` in FIGURE 7. A clutch spring 108 is coiled abouteach collar 104 and about a collar 110 on the adjacent wheel 58. Thesprings 108 act to slip the wheels 58y to the respective clutch collars104 when the associated wheel 58 is rof tated about the shaft 46 by thewheel 94.

For the purpose of energizing the motor 28 and the solenoid 95 for theselected compartment 15, the bottom of the upper cabinet section 14 hasfour switches, one `beneath each compartment 15 and thus associatedthere with. As shown in FIGURE 4, each of these switches comprises ya'brass switch plate 112 secured t-o the wall 114 of the cabinetstructure and a brass switch plate 116 having protuberances 118 normallyspaced from the plate 112 by rubber yor other suitable resilient members120 positioned between the plates 112 .and 116. The bottom of thes-witchplate 116 is angular and extends in along the Ibottom of thecabinet wall 114. The bottom of the switchplate 112 is also angular andextends along the bottom of .the wall 114 and has ea protuberance 122normally spaced from ythe switchplate 116 by rubber lor other suitableresilient member 124.

The front and under surface of the switchplate 116 -is covered with alayer 126 of formica, Bakelite, ber glass, or other suitable materialhaving resilience which will permit pressing the switchplate 116 intocontact with the switchplate 112. When the operator presses ythe.forward or under surface of the layer 126, the switchplate 116 engagesthe switc'hplate 112 for the compartment 15 beneath which the switch andlayer 126 are disposed. This closes the 24 volt circuit 128 which isconnected to the 110 volt circuit 130 thro-ugh a transformer 132 yasshown in FIG- IURE 8. This closes .the circuit for a -solenoid 134 whichcloses a switch 136 and thus closes the 110 volt circuit 130 4throughthe motor 28 .and the solenoid 95 for the compartment above theswitchpla-tes 112 and 116 and the layer of material 126.

Assuming that the compartment 15 is in its lower posi- 4tion as shown tothe right in FIGURE 3, pressing of the layer 126 associated with thiscompartment closes the switch for rthis compartment. This energizes themotor 28 and also the solenoid 95 for this compartment. As a result ofenergization of thesolenoid 95 for .the selected compartment, the idlerwheel 94 moves into `driving engagement wit'h Ithe -pulley wheel 458`for the selected compantment. The eleva-ting cable 62 for the selected-compartment is wound on its pulley `60 and the compartment 15 is raisedfrom its lower position to its raised position through the elevatingcable 62. When the compartment `15 reaches its raised or eleva-tedposition within the up# per cabinet section 14, .as shown to the left inFIGURE 3, latch means 138 on oppio-site sides `of the upper end of thecompartment 15'engages latch means 140 on the cabinet structure andholds the compartment in raised position as a compartment 15 reaches itsupper position it actuates the switch 112-116 yfor that compartment.This energizes fthe 214 vol't solenoid 134 for the -compartment and theenergization of the solenoid 134 deenergizes the solenoid 95 and shutsolf ythe motor 28.

The compartment 15 is lowered from its raised position as shown to `theleft in FIGURE 3, by closing the switch for this compartment. Thisraises the compartment 15 from its raised position sufficiently torelease the latch means 138 from the latch means 140 and to shut off themotor 28. With the latch means thus released yand the moto-r shut olf,.the compartment 15 moves downwardly by its own weight to yits loweredposition as shown to the rig-ht in FIGURE 3. The gear box 44 reduces thespeed of the downward movement of the compartment 15 so that dishes .orglasses in .the compartment will not be broken and so that there will4be no other injury or disturbance of the contents of the compartment.

FIG-URE 5 shows a spacer 142 between the shafts 30 and 46. This .figurealso show-s a gang box 144 in which the transforme-r 162, lsolenoid 134and switch 136 of FIG- URE 8 may be disposed.

The front of the upper Kcabinet section 14 has an enclosure within whichare arranged 'a series of iluorescent 'lights 146. The fluorescent lightenclosure has a top wall 148, end walls 150 and a bottom wall 152. Thefront of the uorescent light enclosure is provided with a glass or othertransparent wall 154 hinged along its upper edge yat 156 to the forwardend of the top wall 148. The .transparent wall 154 may be swung openabout the hinges 1516 for access to the 'uo'rescent light-s 146, orexample, for replacement thereof. The top wall 148, end walls 150 andbottom wall 152 may be formed of transparent material, if desired.

The lower section 12 of the cabinet structure has lower storagecompartments or drawers which move outwardly from the lower section to:open position for access to the interiors of the drawers.

FIGURES 1 and 9 show three of the drawers, the lower drawer being thedrawer 160, the drawer above the drawer 160 being the drawer 162, andthe top drawer being the drawer 164. Each drawer has sides 166, a backwall 168, a bottom wall 170 and a front wall 172. Mounted on the cabinetstructure 174 rearwardly of the back wall 168 of the drawer 164 is alatch 176 for holding the drawer 164 closed. A latch similar to thelatch 176 is provided beneath the drawer 162 for holding the drawer 162open. The latches 176 are released by pushing the drawers inwardly sothat the drawers may be opened. Mounted on the cabinet structure 174rearwardly of the top drawer 164 is a spring 178 which moves this draweroutwardly for opening when the latch 176 therefore is released.'

The cabinet structure carries a pulley or idler sheave 180 at the sideof the top of the forward end of the drawer 162, and there is an idlersheave 182 mounted on the top of the back wall 168 of the drawer and anidler sheave 184 mounted on the bottom of the back wall 168. Anactuating cable 186 is attached to the cabinet structure at the side ofthe drawer 162 at 188. This cable extends rearwardly and around theidler sheave 184, then upwardly around the sheave 182, then forwardlyand around the idler sheave 180, and then rearwardly and around an idlersheave 190 on the cabinet structure 174, from whence it is lead topulley portion 60 to be operated by motor 28 for operation ofcompartments 15. t

The front wall 172 of the drawer 162 has a switch similar to the switchshown in FIGURE 4. This switch comprises a Contact plate 193 and aswitch plate 194 having protuberances 196 normally spaced from the plate193 by rubber or other suitable resilient members 198. The front of thedrawer 162 is covered by a layer 200 of formica, Bakelite, ber glass, orother suitable liexible material similar to the layer 126 described inconnection with FIGURE 4. With the drawer 162 closed when theswitchplate 194 is engaged with the contact plate 193 by manuallypressing against the layer 200, the switch is closed and the motorsheave 190 moves the upper portion of the cable 186 inwardly therebycausing the cable to move the drawer outwardly to open position by itscooperation with the sheaves 182 and 184 on the drawer. When the drawer162 is closing the cable 186 moves in the opposite direction.

When the drawer 162 is open and released it is closed by springs, therebeing a coiled spring 202 attached to the front of the drawer 162 at 204and attached at its opposite end at 206 to a tube 268 which telescopeswithin a tube 210. The opposite end of the tube 210 is secured to thecabinet structure 174 and a second spring 214 is attached at 216 to thetube 208 and at 217 to the cabinet structure 174. The springs 202 and214 move the door 162 to closed position when released.

The bottom drawer 160 has pulleys or sheaves 182 and 184 on its rearwall as previously described for the drawer 162. A pulley or sheave 180(not shown) is carried by the cabinet structure at the side of the topof the forward end of the drawer as previously described for the drawer162. An actuating cable similar to the actuating cable 186 previouslydescribed is trained about the pulleys and arranged as previouslydescribed for the drawer 162. This cable when actuated moves the drawer160 outwardly to open position as previously described for the drawer162.

The front wall 172 of the drawer 160 has a switch similar to the switchshown in FIGURE 4. This switch comprises a contact plate 220 and aswitch plate 222 having protuberances 224 normally spaced from the plate220 by rubber or other suitable resilient members 226. The front of thedrawer 160 is covered by a layer 228 of formica, Bakelite, fiber glassor other suitable exible material similar to the layer 126 previouslydescribed. The front wall 172 of the drawer, the contact plate 220,switch plate 222 and layer 228 are of angular form as shown in FIGURE 9so that the switch may be closed manually as previously described, orwith the foot by engaging the foot with the bottom of the layer 228.

When the switch for the lower drawer is closed with the lower drawer inclosed position the cable is operated to move the lower drawer outwardlyto open position. When the lower drawer 160 is in its lower openposition and released, this drawer is closed by springs, there beingcoiled springs 230 attached to the front of the drawer at 232 andattached at their opposite ends at 234 to a tube 236 which telescopeswithin tubes 238. The opposite ends of the tubes 238 instead of beingsecured to the cabinet structure as described for the drawer 162 areattached to brackets 240 having rollers 242 movable vertically onvertical posts 244. Second springs 246 are attached at 248 to the tubes236 and at 250 to the opposite ends of the tubes 238, or to the brackets240. The springs 230 and 246 move the drawer 160 when in loweredposition and released to closed position within the cabinet structure 12as described for the drawer 162.

Elevating cables 252 are attached to the tubes 238 at 254 and extendupwardly around pulleys or idler sheaves 256 and then rearwardly aroundidler sheaves 258 on the cabinet structure. The idler sheaves 258 aredriven by the motor 28 through the instrumentalities of elements wheels58 and 94, so that when the lower drawer is moved outwardly to openposition the motor may be actuated to operate the cables 252 to move thedrawer 160 upwardly along the vertical posts 244 to accessible positionso that the person does not have to bend or stoop unduly to reach theinterior of the lower drawer 160. A latch 260 operates similar to thelatch 176 for the drawer 164 to hold the lower drawer 160 in raisedposition.

In closing the lower drawer 160 from the position shown in FIGURE 9 itis moved downwardly to position where the drawer may move inwardly intothe cabinet structure 12. The springs 230 and 246 then move the lowerdrawer into place in the cabinet structure beneath the drawer 162.

The bottom of the switch for each compartment, as shown in FIGURE 4,acts as a safety feature. If, for example, a persons arm is in acompartment 15 and the compartment is being raised, the upward movementof the compartment pushes the persons arm against the bottom or lowerpart of the related switch 112, 116 and shuts off or stops the motor 28.

The switch 136 with the solenoid 134 is a spirng released toggle or pullswitch similar to the usual switch with alternate on and off positions.The solenoid closes the switch to start the motor on one operation andthe next operation opens the switch and shuts ofIr the motor.

The switch 136 shown diagrammatically in FIGURE 8 is a spring releasedtoggle or pull switch similar to the usual ele-ctric light switch withalternate on and oit positions. The solenoid 134 makes the circuitthrough the switch 136 when the switch contacts 112-116 are closed. Thenext closing of the contacts 112-116 breaks the circuit through theswitch 136 and shuts off the motor and the next closing of the contacts112-116 makes the circuit and starts the motor 28.

The kitchen cabinet structure of the present application provides theobjectives and advantages previously set forth. The upper compartmentsare normally disposed in the upper cabinet section and moved downwardlyin front of the window for convenient access to these compartments. Theupper compartments are moved upwardly by the motor 28 into the cabinetstructure and the drive wheels for accomplishing this when the motor 28and solenoid 95 are energized by the switch means related to theselected upper compartment provides an improved and highly advantageousoperation. The latch means for holding the upper compartments in raisedpositions and which when released permits the respective uppercompartments to move downwardly by their own weight is also highlyadvantageous. The mechanism for operating the lower compartments ordrawers 160, 162 and 164 is also highly advantageous.

The embodiments of the invention disclosed in the drawings andspecication are for illustrative purposes only, and it is to beexpressly understood that said drawings and the specication are not tobe construed as a definition of the limits or scope of the invention,reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

I claim:

1. In combination, a kitchen having a wall provided with a window, acabinet structure having a lower section with an upper surface anddisposed below said window, said cabinet `structure having an uppersection disposed above said window, said upper cabinet section havingcompartments movable in a vertical direction and normally disposed inelevated position above said window, means for lowering saidcompartments to accessible position in front of said window and forraising said compartments to position above said window, power operatingmeans for raising said compartments, and latch means for holding thecompartments in raised position, said latch means being released byslight upward movement of the compartment from their raised positionsfor lowering of said compartments by the weight thereof.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the compartments whenin raised position are in side by side relation in said upper cabinetsection, power operating means for raising said compartments, solenoidsfor the respective compartments, which when energized produce raising ofsaid compartments by said power operating means, and switch means onsaid upper cabinet section in association with the respectivecompartments for energizing said power operating means and the solenoidfor the compartment associated with said switch means.

3. A kitchen cabinet structure having an upper section, a plurality ofvertically movable compartments disposed in side by side relation insaid upper section and movable downwardly to position below said uppersection for access to said compartments, a plurality of switches on saidupper section with one switch associated with each compartment, a singlemotor for operation of all of said compartments and energized by saidswitches separate drive means between said single motor and the`respective compartments, and a solenoid for each compartment energizedby the switch for the selected compartment for placing the drive meansfor the selected compartment in operation to raise said compartment.

4. A cabinet structure according to claim 3, wherein the upper sectionhas switch means at the bottom of each compartment when in raisedposition for energizing the motor and the solenoid for the selectedcompartment.

S. A kitchen cabinet structure according to claim 3, wherein theseparate drive means between the motor and the respective compartmentscomprises a rst shaft driven by said motor, rst drive wheels for therespective compartments xed to rotate with said rst shaft, a secondshaft parallel with said rst shaft, second drive wheels, one for eachcompartment, on said second shaft, a plurality of third drive wheels,one in driving engagement with each of said rst drive wheels, and meansoperated by the energization of the solenoid for the selectedcornpartment for moving the third drive wheel for the selectedcompartment into driving cooperation with the second drive wheel for theselected compartment.

6. A kitchen cabinet structure having an upper section, a plurality ofvertically movable compartments disposed in side by side relation insaid upper section and movable downwardly to position below said uppersection for :access to said compartments, a plurality of switches onsaid upper section with one switch associated with each compartment, amotor energized by said switches, separate drive means between saidmotor and the respective cornpartments, a solenoid for each compartmentenergized by the switch for the selected compartment for placing thedrive means for the selected compartment in operation to raise saidcompartment, said separate drive means between the motor and therespective compartments comprising a first shaft driven by said motor,first drive wheels for the respective compartments xed to rotate withsaid first shaft, a second shaft parallel with said first shaft, seconddrive wheels, one for each compartment, on said second shaft, aplurality of third drive wheels, one in driving engagement with each ofsaid first drive wheels, means operated by the energization of thesolenoid for the selected compartment for moving the third drive wheelfor the selected compartment into driving cooperation with the seconddrive wheel for the selected compartment, pulley portions associatedwith said second drive wheels and elevating cables, one for eachcompartment, cooperating with the respective pulley portions andoperativtly related to the respective compartments for elevating theselected compartment when the motor and the solenoid for the selectedcompartment are energized.

7. A kitchen cabinet structure according to claim 6, wherein theelevating cables for the respective compartments pass over pulleysattached to the cabinet structure above the compartments, down aroundpulleys attached to the respective compartments and .are attached attheir compartment ends to the cabinet structure.

8. A kitchen cabinet structure according to claim 6, wherein theelevating cables pass upwardly along an end wall of the cabinetstructure and over pulleys attached to a top wall of the cabinetstructure.

9. A kitchen cabinet structure according to claim 6, wherein there areclutch collars xed on said second shaft for rotation therewith, andclutch springs coiled about said clutch collars and about collars onsaid second drive wheels.

10. A kitchen cabinet structure having an upper section, a plurality ofvertically movable compartments disposed in side by side relation-insaid upper section and movable downwardly to position below said uppersection for access to said compartments, a plurality of switches on saidupper section, with one switch associated with each compartment, asingle motor for operation of all -o'f said compartments and energizedby said switches, separate drive means between said motor .and therespective compartments, a solenoid for each compartment energized bythe switch for the selected compartment for placing the drive lmeans forthe selected compartment in operation to raise said compartment, andlatch means operable in the raised position of the selected compartmentfor holding said compartment in raised position.

11. A kitchen cabinet Astructure according to claim 1i), wherein thelatch means for the selected compartment is released by upward movementof said compartment from its raised position whereupon the selectedcompartment moves downwardly to accessible position by its own weight.

12. A kitchen cabinet structure having an upper section anda lowersection, la plurality of vertically movable compartments disposed inside by side relation in said upper section and movable downwardly toposition below said upper section for -access to said compartments, aplurality of switches on said upper section, with one switch associatedwith each compartment, a single motor for all of said compartments andenergized by said switches, separate drive means between said motor andthe respective compartments, 'a solenoid for each compartment energizedby the switch for the selected compartment for placing the drive meansfor the selected compartment in operation to raise said compartment,drawers disposed in said lower section, and means operated by said motorfor moving certain of said drawers outwardly for `access to theinteriors thereof.

13. A kitchen cabinet structure according to claim 12, wherein the meansoperated by the motor for moving the drawers outwardly for access to theinteriors thereof comprises pulleys on the cabinet structure and on thedrawers, and a cable operated by the motor and cooperating with saidpulleys.

14. A kitchen cabinet structure according to claim 12, wherein there aretelescoping tubes between the drawer and the cabinet structure, andspring means attached to the drawer and to `one tube and to said tubeand the cabinet structure for moving the drawers to closed positionwithin the lower cabinet section.

15. A kitchen cabinet structure having a lower section, a drawer in saidlower section, a motor for moving said drawer outwardly from said lowersection for laccess to the interior of said drawer, a pair oftelescoping tubes, one slideable vertically on a vertical post, a springconnected between the drawer and one tube and a spring connected betweensaid one tube and the cabinet structure for moving the drawer to closedposition within said lower cabinet section, and a cable connected to theother tube and operated by said motor for elevating said drawer whenmoved to its open position.

16. A kitchen cabinet structure according to claim 15, wherein there isswitch means at the front of said drawer for energizing said motor.

17. A kitchen cabinet structure according to claim 15, wherein there isswitch means at the front of said drawer for energizing said motor, saidswitch means -at the front of the drawer being of angular form foroperation along its upper portion with the lower portion of said switchmeans disposed for operation by the foot.

References Cited by the Examinerl UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,725,230 8/1929 Ulrich 240-4 X 2,506,086 5/1950 .Tess 312-247 2,758,901 8/1956 Cole312-223 2,803,855 8/1957 Suter 20-1.11 2,873,159 2/1959 Becker 312-2232,875,012 2/1959 Riley 312-223 2,889,442 6/ 1959 Schultz 312-247 X3,028,209 4/ 1962 Hinkel 312-223 3,077,967 2/1963 Woodnard 192-130CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION, A KITCHEN HAVING A WALL PROVIDED WITH A WINDOW, ACABINET STRUCTURE HAVING A LOWER SECTION WITH AN UPPER SURFACE ANDDISPOSED BELOW SAID WINDOW, SAID CABINET STRUCTURE HAVING AN UPPERSECTION DISPOSED ABOVE SAID WINDOW, SAID UPPER CABINET SECTION HAVINGCOMPARTMENTS MOVABLE IN A VERTICAL DIRECTION AND NORMALLY DISPOSED INELEVATED POSITION ABOVE SAID WINDOW, MEANS FOR LOWERING SAIDCOMPARTMENTS TO ACCESSIBLE POSITION IN FRONT OF SAID WINDOW AND FORRAISING SAID COM-